By Tiffany Williams –
On Tuesday, a group of six accomplished new Assistant District Attorneys proudly joined the esteemed Queens District Attorney’s Office in New York.
District Attorney Melinda Katz unveiled the appointment of these talented legal professionals, who hail from some of the nation’s most prestigious law schools, including Columbia Law School, Cornell Law School, Emory University School of Law, Harvard Law School, the University of Connecticut School of Law, and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Law.
The newly appointed Assistant District Attorneys were officially sworn in on Monday, March 31, and have embarked on a comprehensive, six-week Incoming Orientation Program. This immersive training is designed to familiarize them with every facet of the office’s crucial mission. During this orientation, the new ADAs will engage closely with the office’s executive staff and seasoned ADAs, benefiting from their knowledge and experience.
The District Attorney’s Office has outlined an engaging and varied curriculum for the new ADAs. They will participate in insightful lectures, hands-on interactive workshops, and shadow experienced prosecutors as they serve the diverse community of Queens County. This program includes visits to critical NYPD facilities such as the forensic laboratory, shooting range, and Emergency Services Unit, as well as a police precinct. Additionally, they will have the unique opportunity to accompany officers on ride-alongs during their tours of duty, providing them with invaluable real-world exposure.
Upon successfully completing their rigorous training, the new Assistant District Attorneys will be assigned to a series of rotations through various vital bureaus, including the Intake Bureau, the Domestic Violence Bureau, the Criminal Court Bureau, and the Appeals Bureau.
The impressive array of new prosecutors and their respective alma maters includes Naomi-Beth Carter from Emory University of Law; Laurane Fumex from the University of Connecticut School of Law; Emily Jilson from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Law; Jessica Laguerre from Cornell Law School; Elizabeth Mullin from Columbia Law School; and Maria Simonova from Harvard Law School.